SOLWorld

Book Review by Anton Stellamans Author - Wendy Van den Bulck - Equoia, 92 pp, ISBN 978-94-63883-85-6, 2019 Wendy Van den Bulck is a familiar face for many of us who attend SOLWorld conferences and summer retreats. We all know how passionately she can talk about her life with her 10 horses and how much wisdom she received from working with them. She has been working as a coach, trainer and consultant since 2010. Two years later, as she and her husband established Equoia, she started to introduce her horses as co-coaches in her practice. Some SF therapists use their dog in the therapy session, Wendy doesn’t hesitate to let you interact with one (or more) of her horses in the coaching session. It is best not to wear your Sunday shoes when you have an appointment with Wendy!

↗ Introduction Meet Bibiana, a bright, curious young lady whose energy filled the halls of this year’s conference. From the moment she picked up the microphone, it was clear she had a natural talent for making people feel welcome and heard. Bibiana didn’t just ask questions; she created a friendly space where workshop participants could relax, share a laugh, and reflect on their experiences.

↗ Janelle Kwok & Kenneth Kwan & Yi Feng Khoo When was the last time you experienced a true retreat? Not a strategy session disguised as rest. Not a remote working trip dressed up as a break. But a space where your body finally catches up with your soul.

Daniel Meier, Elvira Kalmár, Attila Molnàr, Roy-Mariott, Ralph Miarka& Veronika Jungwirth This conference was beautifully organised by an agile team who succeeded in moving locations at the last minute and still creating the space for amazing conversations and ideas to emerge. In this series, you will find articles, videos, interviews and presentations exploring different perspectives on how SF and Agile compliment each other in project work, team work and much more. Enjoy! 1. Beyond Agile – Building Self-Managing Teams Daniel Meier and Elvira Kalmar

Mark McKergow,Chris Iveson & Susanne Burgstaller ↗ In a VUCA world, organisations are challenged to significantly increase their pace of change. To bring about profound transformations in organisations, leaders and coaches need to apply state-of-the-art “social technologies”. Solution Focus provides such an effective “social technology”. Leaders and coaches must apply state-of-the-art “social technologies” to effect profound organisational transformations. Solution Focus (SF)provides such an effective “social technology”.

Wim Sucaet ↗ Being a leader in these times isn’t easy – it is complex, ambiguous and demanding “An unrecognized difference (since it goes by unnoticed) will not receive the amplification needed and will remain a difference that does not make a difference. A simple difference, often just some doubt, can be enough to begin changing a lifelong pattern or way of thinking.” (de Shazer, 1986).

Gesa Döringer Come and play! The Mindsetter Game© is an innovative solution-focused intervention Gesa Doringer has developed to apply the SF approach in therapy or coaching and teach it in workshops and training. Due to its size of 2x2m and being played on the floor, The Mindsetter literally holds space for clients and their desired future. It has also proven effective in setting the stage for new ideas and first steps towards the client’s desired outcome. There are two versions of The Mindsetter available. The FIRST version is for teaching SF. This version facilitates an active knowledge acquisition of students or practitioners learning SF or in team supervision. Practitioners invite participants to reflect on four of the basic tenets of this approach and discuss the implications of these tenets in the context of their professional environment. They do this in an SF manner:

Stephanie Salecker ↗ Being a leader in these times isn’t easy – it is complex, ambiguous and demanding Leaders need advanced leadership skills and support on how to deal with their daily leadership challenges. Still, they also need to develop higher levels of leadership awareness and consciousness along the way. These levels are often not developed alone or in isolation, involving a much longer term professional and personal learning journey that can extend over many years.

Mark McKergow,Susanne Burgstaller,Jesper Hankovszky Christiansen,Anton Stellamans,Marika Tammeaid & Jonas Wells ↗ What do SF practitioners involved in large-scale change projects do that works? What do SF practitioners that are involved in large-scale change projects do that works? The Macroanalysis Study Group has studied this question for the last two years. They have examined case stories together and identified some distinctive features of SF organisational development (OD) processes.

Paul Z Jackson & Janine Waldman ↗ Workshop on 'Getting the Best From Feedback' - Without demotivating people. When sharing feedback, we want to provide opportunities for learning and growth. Done well, it can strengthen our relationships and raise performance. Done poorly, it can be uncomfortable and even devastating for the recipient.